Gas-main stopper



Patented Een. 11, 1928.

UNITED STATESY PATRICK GOODMAN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

GAS-MAIN STOPPER.

Application filed October 5, 1927.

My invention relates to a main stopper and is intended to constitute an improvement on the device forming the subject matter of United States Patent No. 1,627,502, granted to me l'vlay 3, 1921', as well as an improvement on gas main Stoppers forming the subject matter et Patent No. 1,539,730, ygranted to me May 26, 1925. In the said patents the assemblage comprises a frame collapsible and expansible, and having a diaphragm which is adapted to be passed through a lateral opening in the gas main and then expanded in the main to cut out the flow of gas, said frame having handle bars to extend through the opening and having means to force the handle bars in opposite directions to lock the gas stopper in place.

In the lirst mentioned patent, bracing means is provided between one of the handle bars and certain telescoping members bridging the diaphragm, that is to say, extending diainetrically across the frame. The general object et' the present invention is to provide bracing means ldirectly connected with the sides ot the frame and with the handle bar ret-erred to, the said last-mentioned bracing members being coordinated with bracing members previously incorporated in the gas main stopper'.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing forming a part ot' this specification, it being understood that the drawing is merely illustrative of one example ot the invention.

Fiirure 1 is a side view 01 it gils main.

stopper embodying my present invention, the stopper being shown locked in position in a main shown in longitudinally central vertical section;

Figure 2 is a vertical section substantially on the line 2 2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3 3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an elevation of a gas main stopper in collapsed form;

Figure 5 is a detail in section of the telescoping brace arms for the expansible frame; and

Figure 6 is a detail view given to show the mode of pivoting one end .of certain brace elements. i

1n common with the previous Stoppers referred to, the present assemblage includes a collapsible spring yframe 10 covered by a yielding' packing and having a llexible dia- Serial No. 224,235.

phragm 11 which is stretched across the frame in circular form by exerting pressure on the frame at diametrically opposite points. At these points the iframe is provided with pivotally connected telescoping members 12 and 12, bridging the diaphragm, and pivotally connected handle bars 13 and 14, each bar being provided with suitable hand grips 15 and 115. A hook designated generally by the numeral 16 is provided, having a threaded shank extending through the hand grip 115 and provided with a nut 1'? and a second nut 18 at opposite sides of the hand grip 115 to prevent complete detachment of the hook 16 Vtrom said hand grip 115.

The hooked end 19 oit the hook 16 is adapted to engage beneath a vertically slotted lug 20 on a sleeve 21 itted on the handle bar 14, said sleeve having a set screw 22. Depending from the sleeve 21 is a bracket 23 having a foot 24 at the lower end adapted to engage the gas main at the opening 'formed therein for the insertion of the stopper.

With the described arrangement, when the sleeve 21 is positioned on the handle bar 14 with the foot 24 engaging the gas main at the edge of the opening, the hook 19 is engaged beneath the lug 20. 1t is to be observed that said lug 20 is at the front of the sleeve 21 and the sleeve is so disposed as to position the said lug at the front of the handle bar 14. The said disposition of the lug allows complete clearance 'for the movement of the handle bar 13 relatively to the handle bar 14 for exerting a torce against. the iframe 10 at the top to jam the frame gas tight in the main. In addition, the provision of the lug 20 at the front of the sleeve 21 and handle bar 14 more effectively applies the force developed by turning the nut 17 :torwardly on the hook 16, and it furthermore promotes convenience in the manipulation of the several elements. Y

I provide on the outer telescoping member 12L collars 125 and provide telescoping brace arms 26 pivotally connected to said collars 125 and to opposite sides of collapsible frame 10. The telescoping brace arms 26 are four in number arranged in pairs, the inner member of each telescoping arm 26 being pivoted to a collar 25, and the outer telescoping member being pivoted to a stud 226 on Vframe 10. Between the collars 125 iscompression spring 35. Also within each outer or tubular telescoping member of brace arm 26 is a coil spring 3G tending to separate said brace arms 26 and keep them at the same tension and rigid.

A brace 28 is pivoted at one end to sleeve 25 and at its opposite end is pivoted to a sleeve 27 'freely slidable on handle bar 14. This sleeve 27 may slide on bar 14 in the collapsing and distension of trame 10 and at all times the brace 28 Will be in bracing relation to said bar 14 and said frame. Y

I provide brace elements 8O pivoted in practice advantageously to the same littings 29 to which the elements 26 are secured at their outer ends. Said brace elements 30 at their outer ends are pivotally secured as at 32 to the sleeve 27 on the rod lll to Which brace 28 is also pivoted. rlhus the pivoting oi the elements 30 at their outer ends by fit ting 29 on the opposite sides ot the horizontal medial plane of the stopper el'l'ectively resists strains tending to collapse the trame 10. lt will be observed that While the braces 26 are in the plane et the trame 10, and While the brace 28 connects the telescoping members 12a with the bar 14, the brace elements 30 exert a bracing action between approximately opposite points on the trame 10 and the sleeve 27 on rod 14.

ln order to provide against binding ot the sleeve 27, or undue straining et the rods 30, I pivotally connect said rods 30 to a transverse pin 82 extending through sleeve 27 so that in the expansion 03": the frame and the sliding of the sleeve 27 the rods 3() and pin 32 can accommodate themselves to said movement Without undue strains.

I Would state furthermore that While the illustrated example constitutes a practical embodiment ot my invention, I do not limit myself strictly to the exact details herein illustrated7 since manifestly the same can be considerably varied Without departure from the spirit olf the invention as delined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A gas main stopper including an eX- pansible 'frame having means thereon to et feet a stoppage of the gas main, handle bars on said trame at an angle to the plane of the frame, expansion means for said frame operable by a longitudinal movement ot one handle bar7 and a brace connection between the other handle bar and said trame at approximately diametrically opposite points on the trame. l 2. A gas main stopper including an eX- pansible frame having means to effect the stoppage of the main, handle bars disposed at an angle to the` trame to canse expansion ot' the frame by longitudinal movement oi" one handle bar7 a sleeve on the other handle bar, a rod termed in telescoping sections disposed in the plane of the trame and connected therewith at diametrically opposite points, a brace rod betvveen said telescoping rod and said sleeve, and brace arms each connected at one end With said sleeve and connected at the opposite end with the said frame.

3. 'A gas main stopper including an eX- pansible trame having means to effect the stoppage ot the main, handle bars on the frame to cause expansion otl the iframe by longitudinal movement of one handle bar, a sleeve on the other handle barj a rod formed in telescoping sections disposed in the plane o' the frame and connected therewith at diametrically opposite points, a brace rod between said telescoping rod and said sleeve, a pair of collars on said telescoping rod, two brace rods each connected at one endwith said collars and connected at the opposite end with the said trame and brace rods formed of telescoping sections and extending between said sleeve on the handle bar and opposite sides ot said trame.

t. ln a gas main stopper, an expansible 'frame having means to eliect the stoppage oit the main, handle bars on the frame, eXpansion means for said trame operable by a longitudinal movement ot one handle bar, a sleeve on the other handle bar, a transverse pin turnably mounted in said sleeve, brace arms each connected at one end to said .transverse pin, and pivotally connected at their other end with the eXpansible trame.

5. In a gas main stopper an expansible frame, handle bars connected with said trame, expansion means for said frame operable by a longitudinal movement ot one handle bar, a. rod formed in telescoping sections disposed in the plane of the trame, collars on one section of said telcscoping rod,l and telescoping brace arms pivotally connected at one end to said collars and pivotally connect ed at their opposite end to the trame, together with a coil spring interposed betiveen said collars.

6. ln a gas main stopper an expansible frame, handle bars connected With said trame and disposed at angles thereto, expansion means for said trame operable by a longitudinal movement et one handle bar7 a rod formed in telescoping sections disposed in the i plane et thel trame, collars on one section ot said telescoping rod, and telescoping brace arms pivotally connected at one end to said collars and pivotally connected at their opposite end to the trame, together With a coil spring interposed between said collars. and a coil spring Within each outer telescoping member of said telescoping brace arms.

Signed at New York, in the county ot New York and State ot New York, this 3rd day of October7 A. l). 1927.

PTRlCK GOODMAN. 

